A/N: This chapter is from the POV of Hermione and Cho Chang. I thought it would be nice to get the perspective of someone other than a Potter. Please no bad reviews about the accents, I can't do accents for my life in this.
The Potters and the Goblet of Fire
By Ron Potter
Chapter 7: The House Elf Liberation Front
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Hermione's POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After I helped out Viktor Krum in the library, I decided to help the house elves in the kitchen start a rebellion. Fred and George told me how to enter the kitchens but first I'd need members to support it showing that the humans want to liberate them.
Back in the Common Room, Ron wouldn't leave me alone. He kept saying I was helping Viktor beat Harry. When I am only helping Viktor. Ron even said Professor Moody smiled as he saw us in the library.
December started and so did no species in Care of Magical Creatures. Hagrid had 2 feet long crates on the side of his hut and more seven feet long empty crates in the back.
"Good Morning class," Hagrid greeted. "For the rest of the year we'll be doing blast ended skrewts. Now skrewts are a mixed breed of manticores and fire crabs. I expect by the end of the year, these skrewts will decrease and get about seven feet. Now each of you take a skrewt but watch out for their tails so make sure you take two leashes: one to put around their neck and the other around their tails."
"Me first then," Malfoy sneered. "I highly doubt these things are even legal though."
Hagrid brought a skrewt closer to Malfoy gripping tightly the two leashes. First he made Malfoy sign the safety rules along with everyone else. Then he gave the skrewt to Malfoy. The skrewt pulled Malfoy all around.
The rest of the slytherins seemed a bit scared but volunteered before any Gryffindor could. Crabbe, Goyle, and Millicent were the only ones able to control their skrewts. There may have even been a bit of laughter in Crabbe's eyes to Malfoy. Then the rest of the Gryffindors got one.
Mine nearly ate my bag but I hit it with Hogwarts, A History. It was a good thing a lot of stuff happened in Hogwarts or else my skrewt would have destroyed all my notes. I finally got control by the end of class and had to give him or her or whatever up to the crate.
"Hagrid…would you like to join S.P.E.W. for the equal pay of house elves?" I asked knowing what the answer would be. Hagrid loved all creatures he would want to join.
"I'm sorry Hermione," Hagrid replied. "They love doing work. You'd be doing an unkind favor."
I walked away ashamed of myself. It seemed pointless now to give house elves pay. If Hagrid didn't want to join then no open will. But I couldn't lose confidence in starting S.P.E.W. Viktor said it was a great idea but wouldn't recommend starting it around Durmstrang.
Later that night I interrupted Harry and Ron while doing divination homework. I peered around at Ron's charts. It kept saying stuff like broken arm, broken leg, skull damage, on and on of bad stuff.
"You aren't going to have a pleasant week are you?" I laughed.
"Hey I need Trelawney to like my homework so I need injury," Ron replied.
"I can't get anyone to donate money to S.P.E.W. Hermione," Harry said showing the empty treasury clipboard. "I doubt anyone will join but like Hagrid said, it's not a bad idea just not going to work."
"I found a way to be sure," I said. "George and Lavender told me how to reach the kitchens. It's real easy I should have thought of it before."
"Where is it…I've been trying to get Fred and George to tell me for years?" Ron asked.
I took out a quill and piece of parchment. I scribbled down a quick map of the dungeons. I pointed to the room labeled "Snape's Office". Then pointed to a staircase labeled "Slytherin Passage". Then to another staircase labeled "Hufflepuff Study", then to a dot labeled "Fruit Bowl Picture-Kitchens".
"It's the fruit bowl passage," I said. "All you have to do is tickle the orange. But you can see it's at the end of the hall of the dungeons. We have to pass Snape, the Slytherins, and possibly the Hufflepuffs. I'm thinking we use invisibility charms."
"Sirius told me he used to use an invisibility cloak," Harry said.
"Except your mom won't let it out of the closet," I said. "Do you guys remember the invisibility charm?"
I stared at their blank expressions. They wouldn't know how to do it. I showed them the circle wand movements and then told them the incantation, "Verdimillious". Clearly they didn't care that much but got it and followed me down to the kitchens.
The kitchens of Hogwarts were just like the Great Hall. The tables were set up to go directly up to the houses or staff. Hundreds of house elves worked in the kitchens with pots three times their size except one house elf that stayed near the fireplace drinking butterbeer. I recognized that house elf as Mr. Crouch's house elf, Winky and how he ran her pretty hard during the summer and then fired her. Sitting at the corresponding Gryffindor table was Lavender Brown and George Weasley.
"Lavender…maybe you should so slow down on the food…you're looking kind of fat," I said.
Lavender and George both looked at each other oddly then laughed loudly. How could they not notice she was fatter than she arrived at Hogwarts? Harry and Ron looked confused at what was going on. Then we just ignored them turned our attention to the house elves bringing a pot full of hot soup.
"I want to offer you guys a chance to be paid for your hard work., so wizards and witches don't take advantage of you guys anymore," I explained.
Several house elves moaned by the stove. Another pair of house elves dropped a soup plate and spilled it all over the floor.
"House elves are not supposed to be paid miss," a house elf said. "One house elf is to serve for eternity without pay it's like presenting-."
"Don't say clothes!" another house elf shouted.
"Dumbledore pays Dobby though," Dobby the house elf said. "Dumbledore pays Dobby 1 pairs of socks and 5 Knuts."
"Don't you think you deserve more?" I asked.
"Oh no miss," Dobby moaned. "Sir Dumbledore offered 5 pairs of socks and 7 Knuts but Dobby turned him down for his friend Winky."
"Let's go Hermione…you got your answer…they don't want pay," Ron said finishing off a treacle fudge.
"Alright let's go I give up," I lied. I couldn't give up like this. These house elves have obviously been brainwashed. I will still work to give house elves pay.
Ron, Harry, and I walked silently under our invisibility charms back to Gryffindor Tower. The halls and Gryffindor Tower were silent and empty. Not even a cleaning house elf lurked from the shadows. Then Harry split up from us with his golden egg and a map James gave him so he can figure out the clue.
A/N: Just a quick little chapter. I believe you guys all know what comes that night to Harry so I won't go that much into detail besides there's not enough time especially since this fic is one of a whole Living Lily and James series. Now off the computer I'm working on the third edition in Harry's sixth year.
